Effect of nanoparticles in molten salts – MD simulations and experimental study.
A.Svobodova-Sedlackova, C. Barreneche, G. Alonso, A. I. Fernández, P. Gamallo.
Renew. Energy, 152 (2020) 208-216.
Main parameters that affect thermal capacity: concentration and size of nanoparticles in the nanofluid.
Experimental studies on nanofluids reveal an anomalous increment in the specific heat capacity of these ionic systems when nanoparticles are added. This fact is really important due the applicability of nanofluids in concentrating solar power plants as heat transfer fluid and storage media. These are promising results for the development of high-temperature heat storage applications by enhanced storage capacity materials. We have studied the effect of SiO2 nanoparticles in NaNO3 molten salt by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) experiments. The study shows that for nanoparticles’ concentrations around 1% wt. the Cp increases by 26% compared to pure NaNO3, whereas at higher concentrations the effect disappears.